Potato sacker



D. E. RATH PoTATo SACKER oct.v 4, 1932.

Filed sept. 27. 195o Patented Oct. 4, 1932 PATENT OFFICE rDAVID E. BATH, 'OF DUBUQUE, IOW.

POTATO SAGKER t'n Application med `The present invention pertainsto` means for putting into paper bags a definite quantity of potatoes and is yintended to cure the defects of prior mechanisms designed for thisv purpose. For example, a mechanism havinga tray provided with downwardly extending spouts, in which the tray is turned about a pivot at one side is objectionable for v the reason that the spouts tip the bags over to and spill the potatoes when the spouts are being removed from the bags. A structure in which the table which supports the bags is lowered away from the potato holding hopper is objectionable for the reason that i the hopper must be located at such an elevation that it is difficult toplace the bag of potatoes in the hopper andV therefore undesirable in use. It is therefore among the objects of my invention to provide a mechanism of the character indicated iny which the receiving hoppery may be charged with a minimum of labor;y to provide a device of the character indicated fin which the filling hopper may be removed from the lled bags without danger of spilling them during the operation; to provide an apparatus'of the character indicated by means of which a definite quantity of potatoes may be emptied into a hopper and equally divided between a given number of bags so that the amount in each bag will weigh up within a few ounces ofthe selected amo-unt; to provide an improved mechanism of the character stated; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein. My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing and, while IV have shown therein what is now considered the preferred embodi- Vment of this invention, I desire the same to be understood to be illustrative only and not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

In the drawing annexed hereto and forming a part thereof, Fig. 1 is an end elevation of ,a structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1'; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sec- 50 tion through a portion of this device to illusv8, which tubes are secured in September 27, 1930. Serial No. 484,760.

trate certain details of construction; and Fig. l is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of this structure showing another detail of construction.

Reference will now be made in greater detail to this construction as illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein the framework is illustrated as consisting of a plurality of uprights 1 tied together with cross members 2 and having braces in the corners thereof to lend rigidity to the frame. The uprights 1 are formed from angle irons which serve to guide the tray 4L in its movement up and down. This tray is preferably formed of sheet metal pressed into a concave shape as illustrated, or a piece of sheet metal may have its corners cut out and then the sides bent' up in the shape indicated, the corners then being secured together in any suitable manner, as by spot welding, riveting, soldering, etc. It is of course understood that the sidesof the tray may be of other shapes, as flat, if desired. This hopper has pieces of channel iron 5 extending along its top edges and secured thereto to render the frame rigid. 75 Fig. 3 illustrates one way in which the channel iron may be secured to the edge of the hopper. In this it is illustrated that the edge of the metal is bent outwardly, downwardly, and inwardly around the upper flange of the 90 channel iron 5, thus fastening the two together very securely and rendering the hopper quite rigid.

The bottom of the hopper is provided with any desired number of openings 7 through which extend the upper ends of lling tubes place in the openings in any desired manner. In Fig. 3 the diameter` of the tubes is illustrated as being somewhat reduced at the ends and then 90 the end of the tube inserted in the opening and bent outwardly to form a flange upon the insideof the hopper 4 to hold the tube in place. These tubes are illustrated as flaring somewhat from the top toward the bottom, the upper diameter being preferably about 5.1/2 inches and the lower diameter about ,'7 inches. The length of the tubes is then made such and the distance of the bottom end, as MV illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, from the floor is bottom and fill very satisfactory-to hold the such that these lling tubes will hold just one peck of potatoes. It has been found during my experiments that lif the tubes vare made of uniform diameter throughout their lengthl orv tapered slightly toward ,the bottom, there will be a bridging effect and the construction will be impracticalbecause of vunsatisfactory operation. On the other hand, when these tubes are flared as illustrated no bridging takes place and they potatoes slide down to the the tubes may be withdrawn from the bags without danger of part of the potatoes'remaining inthe filling tubes. In other words, because ofthe flaring ofthetubes't-he metal willpull away from the potatoes without any trouble whatever. Rubber bands 9 are found paper'bags 10'in place on the filling tubes 8. I have found thatshort sections'of automobile inner tubes ofthe approximate size make excellent means or holding the/upper edges of the bags in place` on the filling tubes. In applyingthe paper bags, I have the hopper 4 in" elevated positionas illustrated in dotted lines in F ig.

Y Zand then slip the bags over the tubes and fastenthem in place bymeans of rubber Y bands as illustratedin Fig. 1.` It will be notedthat therubber bandis not put all the 'wayiaround the bag as this is unnecessary to hold the bag from slipping down after it is appliedand before the hopper is lowered.V

n -fPairs of vcables or chains 11 are connected to 'each `end ofthe hopper`4 and are connected to. similar cables or 'chains 12 and-13 vwhich pass overpulleys 14 and 15 and `then down to 'as they aweight1,6 to which they are secured. llilig.` v1 it will be noticed thatv pulley 15 is a oubleY pulley. This isjnecessitated Yby virtue loftheffact ,that therearetw@ principal mem- .bers 12"a`n'd 13 which pass over same. Of course one wide pulleywouldserve the same purpose. To limit the'downward movement, ofthe hopper-4 and hold the lower ends of ythe tube 8v properlyspaced from the supportupon which the 'frame lwork isl carried, for Aexample the floor.brackets 17 are secured in the angles and the bottom edges of the channels' 5Y rest upon these brackets y17' when the hopper is ,in lowered position.. These angles are notched out as indicated at 18 in Eig. 4 vandthus'they serve as positioningV guides to properlyposition the hopper 4 when in'lowered position.V The manner of securing these angles in place isl immaterial cured-in any other suitable manner.

Vplates hopper, but I prefer to use covers similar to chimneys and the'like. coverj'19jis illustrated as AJmeans 19 should be provided for covering 'any ldesirednumber ofthe filling tubes 8. This vmeans may comprise a` ,plate or hinged at the topv of yoneside of the those used in closing stove pipe openings in vIn F ig. '3' sucha having a plurality rfour of the tubes 8 and up the tubes:com piletel,yandA maybe spot welded, riveted, or se-.f

packages within the desired to of fingers 20 which lit into the opening 7 and secure the cover in place thereover.

In the use o f this device if a bushel of potatoes is to be sacked in bags which hold yone peck each, the bags are mounted upon `the other four tubes are covered sothat potatoes willrnot enter them. This is on the assumption that an apparatus such as illustrated in my drawing is used. It will be understoodthat a device having more or less than 8 tubes maybe used, if desired. I prefer to use the eight tube size because this permits the bagging of two bushels ofvpvotatoes at one time. To do this, the `bags are placed on all eight of the tubes and fastened in place with the rubber bands 9 and the hopper 4is `then lowered to the full line position. .A .b'ag oftwo bushels or two bagsof onebushel `eachof potatoes is then emptied into the/hopper 4 and .these run down into the` tubes 8. Since these ,tubes are of just such asizeas to hold 'one peck each7 when the hopper 4 is spaced the resquisite distance from the floor, the eighttubes will be just level full ,when the potatoes `Y`are all out ofthe hoppery and in the tubes. vWhen `they have beenso distributed, the weight 16 ispulled down and thehopper andsuspended Vtubes are raised, the rubberiirst havingbeen released from the Ybags to permit v ythem to `remain upon the floor? without* dropping.

I/Vhen. the hopper is. raised, as'indicatedin weight, instead of or 120 lbs.,ftwo ofthe e openings'may be covered with plates 19 and then the ten pounds of'eXcessfpota-'toes which `do* not go into--thewfilling tubes may be removed, after the six tubes are'iilled; Onl the other hand, if the user sodesires, he ma cover one ofthe openings 7 with the plate'19 i and then put 5` lbs. of potatoes `fromsome other bag into' the hopper alongwith'- the 100llbs'., thus making' 105 lbs.,whichw ill just fill seven of the tubes.

by means of this apparatus and a' number of bushels of potatoes maybe bagged iny 1,5 lb. rspac'eof al few minutes.

.0f course it willV be nnderstoodthatthe tubesmay be madeoffdiferentsizes, if it is put different quantitiesfof potatoes ink the bags.`

therefore myY opinion V that thisjw'ill be subv-The ASL'CkiIlg of potatoes is thus made a, quick and easyV job vnf However, themost common size of packages sold at retail is one peckand-,it is hopper to slide vertically in and be guided by said frame, said hopperhaving openings in the bottom thereof and having lling tubes of definite pre-determined size secured in said Y openings to receive and sub-divide equally a definite quantity of potatoes put into the hopper.

2. In a potato sacker, a supporting frame vertically in a rectilinear direction, means for limiting the downward motion of the hopper, said hopper having openings in the bottom thereof, and measuring means secured to the hopper in registry with said openings and adapted to receive commodities to be measured, said commodities passing through the holes in the hopper and into the measuring means, said measuring means being lifted in a rectilinear direction with the hopper when the latter is raised.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6 having means for attaching bags thereto, around the measuring means, to receive the measured commodities from the measuring means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

DAVID E. RATI-I.

work having corner posts and a top frame,

suspending means supported onthe framework formotion relatively thereto, a hopper to which the suspending meansy is secured, said hopper being held and guided between the corner posts, a counterpoise for the hopper also secured to the suspending means, fiared filling tubes secured to the hopper` and opening therefrom, said tubes being downwardly directed from the hopper and having their larger ends at the bottom, and means for limiting the downward motion of the hoppery and tubes.

3. A structure as defined by claim 2 having elastic bands surrounding the filling tubes for securing` thereto bags to be filled.

4. A structure as dened by claim 2 having means for closing the upper ends of any desired number of filling tubes to prevent the potatoes from having access thereto.

5. In a structure of the character` described, a rigid openworlr frame having angle-shaped upright corner posts, a hopper supported for vertical motion in said frame, means in connection with the corner posts to limit the downward motion of the hopper, suspending means passing upwardly from the hopper and over easily movable supporting means, a counterpoise for the hopper secured to the suspending means, said hopper having openings in the bottom thereof, bag filling tubes of definite predetermined capacity mounted and secured in said openings, said tubes flaring downwardly and adapted to have bags to be filled applied thereto, around the free ends thereof, and means for securing the bags to the tubes.

6. In a structure for the purpose indicated, a substantially rigid upright openwork frame constructed to receive and guide a hopper, means associated with the frame for suspending a hopper therein, said means including a counterpoise andfiexible elements connected to the counterpoise and the hopper, a hopper within the frame and slidable substantially 

